U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said Monday that a 'straightforward application of the plain words' of the Financial Institutional Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) allowed the interpretation sought by the government.

The law has a low burden of proof, strong subpoena power and a ten-year statute of limitations, twice as long as the typical limit for fraud cases. Rarely asserted until recently, it has become the basis of three lawsuits by lawyers under Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara against banks including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Bank of New York Mellon.

The latest decision came in a case the Justice Department brought last October against Bank of America over toxic mortgages that its Countrywide Financial mortgage unit sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the financial crisis.

The government's case, which is set for trial on September 23, focuses on a program instituted in 2007 by Countrywide called 'High Speed Swim Lane' and also known as 'HSSL' or 'Hustle.'

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.